THE MOMENT
Gale stirred in the night. She was struck by the sudden realization that wasn't alone. She instantly had a clear sense in her mind and sat up in the bed to face the darkness. She didn't bother turning on the lamp, she could see the swirling shadows. A lithe, pale woman with bone-white horns sat upon undulating darkness on the other side of Gale's bedroom. Gale hadn't met her; but, the presence seemed familiar.
"Who are you?" Gale asked as she stared forward. She hoped her daughter was still safe and asleep. She had no idea what the being's purpose was in being there, but she did not want to risk an inopportune interruption making things worse.
"My name is Ballisea," the figure replied. "I'm here to Awaken you, if you'll allow me," she said.
"I'm already awake. Thank you very much, you may leave now," Gale replied.
"I don't mean to wake your body from sleep; I will Awaken your soul to its full potential."
"What do you mean? How? Why me?" Gale asked. Ballisea sighed.
"Those are questions you will know the answers to upon Awakening," she said. "May I?" That was the second time she hinted at permission and Gale was quick enough to notice it.
"What happens if I say no?" she asked.
"I will be unable to Awaken you and it would leave the rest of the multiverse somewhat boring to me," Ballisea replied.
"Multiverse?" Gale asked. Ballisea nodded. "Okay, how about a deal? You answer some questions and I let you 'Awaken' me or whatever that is... does it hurt?" she asked.
"You won't feel a thing," Ballisea replied. "I will let you choose a topic to discuss; if you can bring up something you won't get the answers to already."
"I'm guessing the multiverse is one of those things I'll magically get the answers to?" Ballisea nodded with a giggle.
"The answers are already inside you, I will merely unlock them."
"Why me?" Gale repeated one of her earlier questions.
"Because it won't be the first time," Ballisea replied. "The rest of the answers will be known to you soon."
"Why now?" Gale asked. "If it's not the first time... and if I'm going to get all the answers... why not come 'Awaken' me sooner?"
"Now that is something we could talk about," Ballisea replied. "If you choose this topic."
"Yes, please!" Gale nodded. She was happy to have found something that could give her answers without having to endure whatever the Awakening process was. Ballisea said it wouldn't hurt; but, that didn't mean it would be comfortable.
"The Council of Courts came to several agreements in attempt to make this timeline as novel as possible. For my part, I promised not to reform the Void Court until a designated time. Now," she said.
"I don't know what any of that means...," Gale shook her head.
"You will," Ballisea smiled. "Your part in the agreement is also relevant to include here...," she said. "... your daughter, Cadence." Gale was on her feet in an instant. She dashed off the bed and stood face to face with the demon queen.
"What about Cadence?" she asked flatly.
"Both you and her volunteered her to participate in the Pineapple Cup, on our behalf," she said.
"Participate? What's a Pineapple Cup?" She asked.
"A roller derby tournament in December," Ballisea answered. "Cadence will be one of the members representing 'our' team," she said.
"She's only 13...," Gale shook her head. "I've seen roller derby, it looks dangerous..,"
"It's not the version of the sport you're familiar with. It's safer, and she's capable," Ballisea replied.
"Wait...," Gale said. "...I believe you and that's strange enough. But, you show up here claiming to be a demon queen and you nonchalantly drop info about the multiverse, and past lives as far as I can tell. And, your real goal in coming here to Awaken me is to get my daughter on your roller derby team?"
"It's an important game," Ballisea nodded.
"How important can a roller derby game be?!" Gale shouted the question. Stress made her voice louder than she meant.
"Well, that just depends on the stakes, doesn't it?" Ballisea said. "It's not hyperbole to say the outcome of the Pineapple Cup will determine the future of the multiverse."
"Is it in danger..?" Gale asked. Ballisea laughed and shook her head.
"Of course not; the universe is both vast and infinite. There is nothing we could do to endanger it."
"Then.. when you say it'll determine the future of the multiverse...?" Gale asked.
"Quite literally," Ballisea nodded. "Whoever wins gets to pick the rules of the next game."
"What... the rules of the next tournament?"
"It might resonate more if I say the winners get to determine the next timeline; after all, we've been through so many already. It's refreshing to have a way to mix things up."
"The next timeline...?" Gale asked and shook her head again. "And you're just treating it like a game?" Ballisea laughed.
"At a certain scale, everything is a game."